The NBRC TMC (Therapist Multiple-Choice) exam is the entry point to CRT certification, and a step toward RRT. It's built from an official content outline with three areas that carry very different weight — roughly 36% / 14% / 50% — which means the biggest single chunk of the exam is about initiating and modifying interventions, not just evaluating patient data.
The three content areas, by weight
- I. Patient Data Evaluation & Recommendations (~36%) — interpreting labs, vitals, and diagnostic data to make clinical recommendations.
- II. Troubleshooting, Quality Control & Infection Control (~14%) — the smallest section, but still worth dedicated review.
- III. Initiation & Modification of Interventions (~50%) — the largest section: ventilator settings, oxygen therapy, and adjusting treatment based on patient response.
Why the high-yield facts need to be drillable, not just readable
ABG values and acid-base interpretation, FiO₂ by device, ventilator modes and PEEP, ARDS settings, cuff pressure, and weaning calculations like RSBI are the facts that show up again and again across the exam. Flashcards built specifically around those high-yield points — rather than a generic glossary — are what actually stick during repeat review sessions.
What this looks like in practice — Respiratory Therapy TMC Exam Study Guide 2026
A 4-file printable bundle built to the official NBRC TMC content outline and weighted to the real exam (36% / 14% / 50%) — designed to take you from student to CRT, and toward RRT.
- Study guide (34 pages) — all three content areas, visual clinical cheat sheets (ABG interpretation, mechanical ventilation, oxygen delivery devices, airway management, pharmacology), plus 100 practice questions with a teaching rationale for every answer
- Full-length mock exam — 60 original questions in blueprint proportions with a complete answer key and rationales
- 48 printable flashcards — ABG values and acid-base, FiO₂ by device, ventilator modes and PEEP, ARDS settings, cuff pressure, weaning (RSBI), and key medications
- Study planner — a weekly plan, a content-area progress tracker, and a mock-exam score log
Visual cheat sheets for ABG interpretation, mechanical ventilation, and oxygen delivery devices.
Who this is for
- Respiratory therapy students preparing for their first TMC attempt
- Repeat test-takers who need the material to finally click
- Anyone who wants a study plan weighted the way the real exam actually scores
Frequently asked questions
Which content area is worth the most on the TMC?
Initiation & Modification of Interventions, at roughly 50% of the exam — the single largest content area, covering ventilator settings, oxygen therapy, and adjusting treatment based on patient response.
What high-yield facts do the flashcards cover?
ABG values and acid-base interpretation, FiO₂ by device, ventilator modes and PEEP, ARDS settings, cuff pressure, weaning calculations like RSBI, and key medications — the facts that repeat across the exam.
Is this affiliated with the NBRC?
No. This is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) or any credentialing body. All practice questions are original and not actual exam items; always confirm current exam details in official NBRC candidate materials.
Does this only cover the TMC, or also the CSE?
This bundle is built specifically around the TMC content outline and its exact weighting.
Instant PDF download — 4 files, print at home or study on any device.